Method of repairing pinion bearings



March 23, 1954 'r. c. GERNER 2,672,680 METHOD OF REPAIRING PINIONBEARINGS Filed Nov. 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

Theodore C. Garner March 23, 1954 GERNER 2,672,680

REP

Filed NOV. 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Theodore 6. Gamer March 23, 1954 c; GERNER 2,672,680

METHOD OF REPAIRING PINION BEARINGS Filed Nov. 28, 1949 3 Sheets-$heet 3Theodore (I. Gamer INVENTOR.

BY @mw Patented Mar. 23, 1954 Theodore C. Gerner, Oklahoma City, Okla.Original application November 4, 1947, Serial No;

Divided and this applicationNovember- 28, 1949, Serial No. 129,825

4- Claims. 1,

This'invention comprises novel and useful improvements ina method and ina device for repairing pinion bearings, and more specifically pertainsto a method and device for reconditioning worn pinion bearings of thedifferential ring gearand pinion bearing assembly of motor ve hicles forre-use in an improved, economical and highly elficient manner.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a method and'device for' replacing, restor ing and reconditioning worn pinionbearings whereby the' time and labor required will be greatly reduced.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a method and device inaccordance with the preceding objects which maybe employed tocondition-and reclaim pinion shafts in which the bearingelements thereofhave become unduly worn.

A still further'important purpose of the inven tionis to provideamethod'and device inaccordance with the preceding objects, wherein thereplacement unit may be retained upon the pinion shaft by a retainingmeans engageable with the original rear pinion'bearing retaining groove.

A further important is to provide a method in accordance with the and areplacement unit preceding objects; which shall provide for an improvedretaining and positioning of the front pinion bearing'locking ring intoits assembled'position during reassembly of the pinion shaft assembly.

And afinal important object of the invention to be specificallyenumerated'herein is' to pro vide an improved method of assembly, methodof reconditioning worn pinion bearings, wherein the reconditioning unitshall be of light weight, inexpensive and compact construction, togetherwith an improved means for inserting'and installing the same.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of theinvention whichwill later become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds; are attained by this invention, preferred embodiments of whichhave been illustrated by way ofexample only inthe accompam ing drawings,and described hereinafter in the following specification, and wherein,in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a verticallongitudinal sectional purpose of the inventionFigure 2 is a perspective view, parts being" broken away, of thereplacement hearing forming thesubject of theinv'ention;

arily. provided -with Figure 3-is a fragmentary vertical transversesectional view taken substantially upon the planeof the section line 3-3ofli'igure l, and. showing more particularly the manner of lock ing thereplacement unit to a pinion. shaft;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal,

sectional view showing a portion of the conventional pinion shaftbearing assembly, for this inbroken away, showingyet another embodimentof the bearing replacement device, in accordance,-

With this invention; and

Figure '7 is a further beingbroken away, of ofthe invention similar tothat shown in Figure 5.

Thepresent application constitutes adivision of the invention andsubject matter set fortliin perspective view, parts my copendingapplication Serial No; 783,894, filed November l, 1947, now PatentNumber 2,583,261 of January22, 1952, for Device for Repairing PinionBearings, and is directed particularly to the improved methoddisclosedinsaid copenjd ing application.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, whereinlike numerals designate similar parts throughout the various directedfirst to the embodiviews, attention is ment of the invention illustratedin Figures 1- 4.

There is disclosed at Iii a portion'ofa conve ntional differentialhousing within. which is ro tat-ably journalled a ring gear IZWhich'meshes with a pinion gear l4 carried by the pinion shaft l6 which issplined, as at l8, for engagement with a customary propeller shaft20,,whichl2itter is connectedby a means not shown, but'well known in theart, to a power plant for driving the wheels and axles of an Thedifferential housing I!) has aforwardly extending tubular portion 22'constituting ahousing within which is journalled the pinion shaft Hiandwhich receives the peller shaft housing 24, all conventional design. Asis art, the bore of 'the housing automotive vehicle;

in accordance with well-known f in l the extension 22 is pro-- videdvwith j a shoulder 26 upon which is seated a spacing: or retaining washer28 forming a seat As showmanfor the front pinion bearing 30. Figure 1;the frontipinion bearing 30 iscustom yet another embodiment torque tubeor prov I an inner and outer bearing race between which are retained tworows of anti-friction balls. The front bearing 36 is retained in seatedposition against the washer 23 by means of an annular front bearinglocking ring 32 which is seated in the enlarged portion 34 of the boreof the housing 22. In further accordance with conventional design, thelocking ring 32 is biased against the front bearing 30 by means of oneor more radially disposed adjusting screws 36 provided with thecustomary lock nuts 38 and having frusto-conically tapered innerextremities 40 which engage with the tapered rear surface of the lockingring 32 for urging the same forwardly as the locking bolts 36 arescrewed inwardly of the casing 22.

The bore 34 where it merges into the interior of the differentialhousing is provided with an enlarged portion 44 comprising a seat forthe rear pinion bearing indicated at 46 in Figure 4 and for thereplacement rear pinion bearing indicated at 48 in Figure 1. Adjacentthe rear pinion bearing 46 or the replacement bearing 48, the pinionshaft I6 is provided with an annular groove 50 constituting a lockinggroove for receiving the rear bearing retaining ring 52, as shown inFigure 4.

As so far described, this structure represents the conventional andwell-known pinion bearing assembly of various types of automotivevehicles.

In order to better understand the purposes, functions and advantages ofthis replacement unit, attention is now directed to the following. Inmodern automotive vehicles, it is extremely important to maintain theproper lash or adjustment between the mating teeth of the pinion l4andthe ring gear l2. If too tight a fit exists between these gears, theteeth are rapidly and unduly worn until breakage occurs; an excessivestrain is placed upon the pinion shaft bearings, resulting in damage ofthe rollers or ball bearings and their races; and in some instances thepinion shaft itself may be sprung or bent. On the other hand, too greata clearance between the, pinion and ring gear teeth results in unduenoise or hum, an excessive lash which, during accelerating andde-celerating, may result in breakage of pinion teeth or other parts;and further resulting in the imposition of unnecessary and detrimentalshocks and strains imparted by the motor to the various elements of thepower transmission from the motor to the wheels. It has therefore becomecustomary and highly necessary to maintain a very delicate adjustment oflash between the ring gear and pinion. Obviously, any undue wear in thepinion bearings, including their races and anti-friction elements, orany breakage thereof, will further complicate or even render impossiblethe requisite precision adjustment of the ring gear and pinion.

Heretofore, when such a situation arose as to necessitate thereplacement of the front or rear pinion bearings, it was found to benecessary to discard the entire pinion gear and pinion, since the innerrace of the rear pinion bearing was formed upon a machined surface ofthe pinion shaft itself. Consequently, any spalling, excessive wear, ormarring of the inner race necessarily occasioned the replacement of theentire pinion shaft and pinion in order to restore the proper bearingengagement of the parts. This replacement is necessarily expensive,particularly since ring gears and pinions come in matched sets, wherebythe replacement of one necessarily requires the replacement of the otherin order'to provide a quite difierential gearing.

The replacement unit of this invention is particularly designed torecondition a pinion shaft in which the inner bearing race is marred,and to restore the same to its original efficiency of operation withoutdiscarding the shaft, thereby effecting a material economy in making asatisfactory repair. It should be further noted that when a pinion shaftis removed, the locking nuts 36 are customarily released, the lockingring 32 is removed and the front bearing 3% which is pressed upon asuitable seat on the pinion shaft is withdrawn with the unit. Whenheretofore reassembling a new pinion shaft assembly, it has been foundto be extremely difficult to maintain the locking ring 32 in its properposition as the bearings at the front and rear of the pinion shaft areproperly seated, and in order to engage the locking ring with thelocking screws 35. As will be readily seen from Figure i, the loose fitof the locking ring in the bore 34 permits the locking ring to be jarredfrom its proper position by the slightest jar or movement of the pinion.shaft during the process of installation. By means of this replacementdevice, ample provision is made for facilitating the proper positioningof the locking ring and the holding of the locking ring in its properposition by the slightest jar or movement of the pinion shaft during theprocess of installation. By means of this replacement device, ampleprovision is made for facilitating the proper positioning of the lockingring and the holding of the locking ring in its proper position as anecessary incident to the seating of the rear bearing in its seat.

The replacement bearing unit, indicated generally at 4B, is shown moreclearly in Figures 1 and 2, and its fastening means is shown best inFigure 3. This rear bearing replacement unit comprises an outer bearingrace 54 which is flanged as at 56 to abut the seat 44. A plurality ofanti-friction rollers 58 are received in the outer race although otheranti-friction means may be employed if desired.

The inner race 60 of the bearing assembly 48 is further provided with ashoulder cooperating with the flange 5B for limiting axial movement ofthe roller elements 58 in one direction, and the adjacent surfaces ofthe inner and outer races 54 and 6c are provided with annular grooves 64and 66 within which are removably seated annular locking rings 68 and 10respectively.

The inner race 60 is of sufficient diameter to be snugly received uponthe original but worn inner race 12 of the rear bearing, which originalinner race is formed directly upon a properly machined portion of thepinion shaft.

Extending forwardly from the rear bearing inner race 62 is an annularsleeve 14 of sufficient length for its forward extremity to abut andengage the surface 42 of the locking ring 32, and urge the latter to itsseat when the rear bearing replacement assembly 48 is properly seated inits turn. As will be readily seen from Figure 1, the

; annular sleeve 14 has an internal bore which is a continuation of theinner bore of the inner race 60, whereby the same is slightly spacedfrom but surrounds the pinion shaft 16 to facilitate its movementthereon. The extension or sleeve 14 is of such outside diameter as toprovide ample clearance with the inner extremities of the fasteningbolts 36, and thereby avoid interference with the latter as they areadjusted inwardly to force the locking ring 32 and the front bearing 30to their seats.

As shown best: in Figures 2 and 3, a pair of act-2,680

5, alignedbo'res 16 and 18" are formedthrough the extension 1lof theinner ra'ce so; and are disposed-"as a secaht rather than asa diameter'of tlfe" cylindrical sleeve 74. These bores are de'- signed to'interse'ctthe annular locking groove 50 as shown in Figure 3, and aresilientlocking pin 80 forced through thc'se'bores, in such manner asto be intermediately deformed in an arcuate fashion as at 82 "forresilient; deformable engagement with the locking' rcovetci Obviously,this locking pin makes use ofthe original bearing retaininglockinegroove of the pinion shaft assembly which is to be reconditioned, forretaining the replacement unitthereon.

By means of the installation of this assembly, as shownin Figure 1, aworn pinion shaft'rear bearing inner race may be res'tored asasatisfactory bearing, and the replacementbearing may be locked upon thepinion shaft by the original locking groove therefor, while the spacingsleeve 14 facilitates the assembly of these parts by positioning andretaining the locking ring 32 in its proper position.

Attention is now directed to the embodiment or modified form of theinvention disclosed in Figure 5, wherein all of the parts of thereplacement assembly are of identical construction with that set forthin Figures 1-3, except that a spacer sleeve 84 corresponding to thespacer sleeve 14 of Figure 1 is detachably secured to the inner racerather than being formed integral therewith. For this purpose, theforward portion of the inner race 60 may be provided with an annularflange 86 which is engageable by an annular flange 88 carried by thespacer extension 84. This construction gives the same advantages as arepresent in the foregoing embodiment, but possesses some alternativeadvantages in that the spacer sleeve 84 may be constructed of adifferent material, may be separately shipped and stored, and may beomitted or assembled upon the bearing for installation as in thepreceding embodiment. Obviously, the spacing sleeve 84 could be oflighter construction, since its only utility is in the actual installingand positioning of the locking ring 32. Once the latter has beeninstalled, seated and retained by the adjusting screws 36, the spacersleeve 34 loses its principal utility.

Figure 5 shows yet another modified form of construction, and is alsoidentical with the construction of Figure 1 except for the arrangementof the spacing sleeve. In this form of the invention, the spacing sleevemay consist of an annular band at, either formed integral with the innerbearing race fill, as in Figure l, or separately attached thereto in themanner indicated in Figure 5, and provided with the above mentionedlocking bores 92. However, instead of consisting of a continuouscylindrical sleeve, the spacer may comprise a plurality of axialextensions or fingers 9 which are engageable with the locking ring abovementioned for positioning the latter. This construction obviously hasthe same functions and advantages as the foregoing constructions, withthe additional feature that the material required and the weight thereofis considerably less by providing a plurality of fingers rather than acontinuous cylindrical sleeve.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 7, a detachable extensionsleeve 96 is indicated which is identical with the sleeve 84 shown inFigure 5, except for a longitudinal slot 98 therein adapted to giveresiliency to the device whereby an annular internal channel or grooveit!) may engage an annular rib, not shown, corresponding 67 to theannular" flange 86$ Inthis construction; the longitudinal slot 9W givessufiicient circumferential resiliency to the extensionsleeve-to enablethelatter to be brought opcnsufficiently to cause the groove98'tosnap-apart and retain the flange 8 6.

From theforegoing, it will be seen that numei ous embodiments may beemployed for restoring a worn pinion shaft rear bearing inner race tooperative position, while simultaneously assisting inspacing andretaining the front bearing locking ring in position. This device may beinstalled" upon aworn pinion shaft without any alteration or machiningof the latter it beingunderstood that wherereplacement of a front pinionbearing is necessary the standard bearing supplied for this'purpose' maybe utilized. The great advantage of this device is that wherein theoriginal equipmentno provision was made for replacing the rearpinionbearing without=replacing the entire pinion shaft, a repair may now beeffected which is fully as satisfactory in its performance as replacingthe entire shaft assembly but at a great saving in cost and labor aswell as facilitating the installation of the front bearing and itslocking ring.

Since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in theart after a consideration of the foregoing specification andaccompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction shown and described, but all suitable modificationsand equivalents may be resorted to falling Within the scope of theappended claims.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is as follows:

1. A method of reconditioning a pinion shaft assembly of the type havinga pinion shaft housing with a pinion shaft having an integral pinionthereon, said pinion shaft being journaled therein by a front bearingsecured by a locking ring and a rear bearing having an integral innerbearing race on the pinion shaft and an outer hearing race seat in thepinion shaft housing, which comprises; releasing the locking ring,withdrawing the pinion shaft including its front and rear bearings fromthe pinion shaft housing, removing the rear bearing outer race,positioning and securing a removable replacement inner bearing race uponthe worn and out of round integral inner bearing race, inserting aremovable replacement outer bearing race upon the removable replacementinner bearing race, reinserting the pinion shaft assembly in the pinionshaft housing with the removable replacement outer bearing race seatingin the pinion shaft housing and securing the front bearing in positionby said locking ring.

2. In the method of claim 1, the additional step of securing theremovable replacement inner bearing race upon the integral inner bearingrace against all axial movement relative to the pinion shaft.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the replacement inner race is ofgreater external diameter than that of the integral inner race.

4. A method of reconditioning a worn pinion shaft assembly for motorvehicles of the type having a pinion shaft housing with a pinion shafthaving an integral pinion thereon, said pinion shaft being journaledtherein by a front hearing which is secured by a bearing retainer, and arear bearing having an integral inner bearing race on the pinion shaftand an outer bearing race seat in the pinion shaft housing having anouter bearing race seated therein with antifriction bearing elementsinterposed between the integral inner bearing race and the outer bearingrace, which comprises; withdrawning the pinion shaft including its frontbearing and retainer and rear bearing from the pinion shaft housing,removing the rear bearing outer race and the antifriction bearingelements, positioning and securing a removable replacement inner bearingrace having an internal diameter less than the original diameter of theintegral inner bearing race and an external diameter greater than theoriginal diameter of the integral inner bearing race upon the worn andout of round integral inner bearing race, inserting a removablereplacement outer bearing race upon the removable replacement innerbearing race, inserting antifriction bearing elements between thereplacement inner and outer bearing races introducing the bearingretainer into the pinion shaft housing, reinserting the pinion shaftassembly into the pinion shaft housing with the removable replacementouter bearing race seating in the rear outer bearing race seat in thepinion shaft housing and causing the bearing retainer to position thefront bearing in place.

THEODORE C. GERNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,885,980 Boden NOV. 1, 1932 1,909,230 Smith May 16,19331,984,718 Wistrand Dec. 16, 1934 1,987,415 Padgett Jan. 8, 19352,405,541 Gerner Aug. 6, 1946 2,571,562 Gerner Oct. 16,1951 2,583,261Gerner Jan. 22, 1952

